Leopard Gecko Tips For Beginners
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 10. 07. 2024
- Good Morning, Reptilians! This week we're going over some helpful tips for new leopard gecko owners: things you should know BEFORE getting a leopard gecko. :)
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0:00 Intro
1:08 Tail Loss
1:39 Hides
2:29 Shedding
3:32 Initially Very Shy
4:22 Body Language
5:10 Handling
6:14 Feeding
7:48 Heat Source
8:46 Lights
9:19 Calcium Sand
10:16 Things I Forgot
11:33 Outro
11:50 Sponsor - thedubiadude.com
12:49 Shoutouts
13:18 Bloopers
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Elle O'Shea
PO Box 3061
Decatur, AL 35602
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#LeopardGecko #LeopardGeckoTips #LeopardGeckoCare
Still contains great information. The only thing you've changed your stance on is the heating options. Heat pads are out and lamps are in due to updated information.
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One tip I'd say, is whenever you come close to their enclosure or do anything inside of it, always move slowly so that you don't startle them. Well, I guess that is any reptile, but I know when beginners get excited, they may move too fast and wonder why they aren't making progress, js. You have a great channel.
Mama Leone? You are from Italy ? I life in Germany with my ball python. Bye
Yes! Very good tip. đ
Thank u 4 this infođđœ
@@ellesreptiles i just purchased a jungle snow mack juvenile and wanted to know what humidity temp you keep yours tank at and if i already have a temperature controller , should i still have a digital thermometer?
Good avisđ
My leopard gecko just sleeps and looks like heâs going to kill me
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Same like I go too handle him and he be like wake me up youâll be dead ty Iâve never got liked except by a CZcamsr
They are mostly thought to be nocturnal so that might have something to do with it.
Lolđ
me: *a leopard gecko owner for a year still watching this*
You never know. You might learn something. I didn't but better safe than sorry.
Try me, Ive had mine for 10 lol
Me: a leopard gecko owner for 8 years still watching thisđđ
It just a sign of love.
Same
Personal tip: Give them texture enrichment. Leopard geckos like to explore, and part of that is experiencing new textures on their bellies as they walk around and feel out new enrichment items. You should also include something with a rough edge - not like serrated or anything that they could get cut on, but something rough enough that they can rub on it when they're in shed. Having a rough surface or edge will help loosen up the skin and get the shed starting to peel. You can find these things called stacking stones, and I believe they come with some rough stones, and some smooth stones. So even if you don't stack them like the name suggests, you can use them to provide some texture enrichment.
You can also help skittish geckos by adding more cover. It keeps them from having to run so far, and may make them feel comfortable enough to stand in a more open area while you're around. In general, leopard geckos like "clutter" that makes them feel like they're not exposed all the time, even after they've been socialized to people.
EDIT:
This comment used to advocate against calcium dishes, but according to my vet, there's really no issue with it, as long as your gecko isn't burying it in the dirt or flipping it over and eating the dirt with calcium on it. I had heard some myths, but really the only issue seems to be if you're putting calcium + D3 in the dish, because Vitamin D poisoning is a real thing that can happen. But, if you have concerns about your gecko having big bubbles under their arms, that's them storing extra calcium and there's nothing wrong with it; that's what they're meant to do.
I know this is really old but do you think itâd be beneficial when theyâre a baby to have a calcium dish?
@@rosemarie1281 I'm not a vet or anything, just did a lot of research, so take my answer with a grain of salt. But, since calcium toxicity doesn't happen very quickly, you could try a calcium dish, and keep an eye on the space where your gecko's front legs meet the body. Normally, this will be a bit of a crevice or "armpit" as many people call it. But, monitor this area carefully if you provide a calcium dish. If your gecko's "armpits" end up with large bulges/sacs underneath them instead of a hole, that means they're getting too much calcium, and you should probably take the dish away before it becomes a problem.
Also if you do include a calcium dish, make sure it's calcium WITHOUT D3. D3 is not water-soluble, and can leech calcium. Since it's fat-soluble, your gecko won't get rid of excess D3 quickly, and it'll mess with the delivery of calcium in the body - or so I read, anyways.
@@danieltaylor4185 omg thank you for responding so quickly as well. This is super informative and I definitely will monitor for the sacs as well as have very minimal calcium w/out D3 in the enclosure. Also Iâll look into this more- hadnât heard about it before so thank you for writing something so comprehensive to help out!
@@danieltaylor4185 yeah. um. you shouldnât take the calcium away. the sacs on the arms are kinda harmless. geckos having no calcium is wayyyyy more harmful than having too much calcium. its better to just bring down the calcium a bit instead of taking it away all together.
Thanks for the tip maybe Iâll put it in 1 day of the week when I get my gecko
my gecko has been getting used to me but sometimes if i keep my hand still while im in there she will just smell me then give me a lil kiss......melts my heart
I'm looking into getting a leopard gecko for my daughter, so this was super helpful! Thank you, and have a wonderful week.
You definitely should if u did not already i just got a leopard gecko today I am soo happy they r super cute and fun
@@keyairaconnell6686 They really are cute, because of covid lock down last year I wasn't able to pick up one yet. This year for my daughter's birthday I will surprise her with one. Thanks for the encouragement.
I also got my gecko leo for my birthday
I wish you were my mum âđ«
Off topic, but your shirt is adorable! I'm doing my research for getting a leopard gecko soon!
Thank you! It's finally getting cool enough (some mornings haha) that I can start wearing sweaters đ„°
Your channel has been a BLESSING during this first week of leopard gecko motherhood! My little lady is about 10 months. Iâm still trying to figure out feeding, heating, and general enclosure arrangement. She had a wonderfully successful shed this first week (thank you moist hide), sheâs nomming Dubia roaches and super worms, though not very many. Iâm thinking maybe because she was in shedâŠ? I donât know everything yet, but Iâm going to keep trying, learning, and watching. Thanks!!!
I wish I had seen this sooner! I'm a teacher and got a leopard gecko through the PetSmart Teacher Grant. The set up they gave was SO basic so I've been trying to figure things out on my own. I joined a FB group but they were all yelling and one person even belittled me for keeping him in my classroom. And there was so much conflicting information on what to buy for him. I absolutely love our Leo (also named Leo), and he has brought so much joy to the kids as well!
I have a leopard gecko as a class pet through the same grant!! â€
Good, no pet should be kept in a classroom
@@kkk-gf6sjzoology professors would like to differ
like if you have a leopard gecko :)
they are cutest little geckos awe đ„ș
They have the cutest little faces đ„°
Stop begging
I love this, it helps so much! I'm about to adopt a leopard gecko from a girl who has a lot of exotics and this was the first video I clicked on to help, so I'm really excited! đ§Ąâš
Iâm getting my first reptile tomorrow or sometime this week and Iâm genuinely so excited heâs a leopard gecko and Iâve been doing so much research for him
Here's a personal tip my leo has experienced: If your leopard gecko is too chilly or has been on the cool side all day, or if the cage isn't heated, they won't want to eat. I don't want anybody to force feed their gecko; they simply need to be warmed up or placed near a heat source of some kind to be able to eat again, because they can digest their food when they are warm, as she stated in the video.
I also have another tip about long or sharp claws/nails: If you notice your leopard gecko has sharp claws/nails or you feel small pricks when you handle them, here is how I would treat them. If you have a more "realistic" cage, such as one with a foundation layer instead of carpet or tile, I would put stones (large enough for them not to ingest) in the cage so that their nails would narrow down over time. The same is true for carpet or tile users; just make sure they can walk on it.
Thank you! What a great and informational video! This helped in my leopard gecko research so muchđ
Thank you because I got a gecko a few months ago and this video really helped me a lot so I can make her tank way more comfortable.
Love this, thank you! We just got a Leo and I have a lot left to learn
my son Exploring Alabama Jr is crazy about your channel so I had to check it out! His leopard gecko is growing and he's been watching your vids to learn! Thanks!
Love this! I'm thinking of getting one soon.
I love all of your videos, I am going to get one later this year and these types of videos help a lot
New subscriber here. So my 23 yr old son just decided to buy my very mature 6yr old daughter one of these, now I have had ball pythons and such in the past but never a gecko. Iâm glad I stumbled over this video while trying to research how to properly care for this beautiful animal! My son gave it to us in a glass tank 10 gal I think and it had no heat pad, and he told me about the tail, and the calcium supplement but little else! I have a huge OCD when it comes to knowing EVERYTHING about taking care of my pets and so of course I went digging. I can also see Ill be heading to the pet co for a proper pen with plenty of ground space! This little guy is very adorable and so far just loves sitting in my hand. My daughter is very gentle with him, as she has been handling my sons bearded dragon since it was a baby. However I will continue to supervise her handling of the gecko.
These tips are extremely helpful!! Iâm glad you said something about the live food because my leopard gecko is very small even though he eats regularly and Iâve always wondered about that. He is about four or five years old but Iâve only had him for a little less than a year because his old owners gave him to me when they could no longer care for him. currently I do not live feed him because his old owners didnât and my parents didnât want to have live crickets in the house. But now that I know the long term effects of not live feeding I am gonna try to persuade my parents to at least let me do live worms and I plan on doing live crickets when I move out in the near future. Thank you so much for all the helpful tips!! Im glad I found this channel.
We just got a leopard gecko about a month ago! This video is super helpful. Thank youuuu
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I Just got my lil baby a few days ago and I was a little sad that she was shy, she's slowly getting used to me and I have completely fell in love with her!! Shes super sweet and she loves when I hand feed her! Your video is super informational and has helped me a lot with my new baby!!
For anyone who's getting a Leopard Gecko as a first reptile be very careful with the UVB lights. If you do choose to use one, make sure you're setting it up correctly, at an appropriate distance from the soil and please make sure it's the correct amount of UVB. Leopard Gecko's skin is more sensitive than for example a Bearded Dragon's skin and their skin can suffer burns from the UVB light IF not setup correctly. Also, if you choose to use a deep heat projector with/instead of heatmats, try using it above basalt rocks (smooth, slate), the deep heat projector warms up the rocks nicely which will help them keep warm and digest easily, while also encouraging basking behaviour. Great video, great tips.
arcadia shade dweller is a good uvb for leopard geckos
If I use a deep heat emitter do I need to use a basking light with it ?
Omg, her voice is literally so soothing
This was soooo super informative !! Thanks đ
Iâve been watching your videos for a while before I realized I havenât subscribed đ„ș I just found your page but I love it!
Very informative as we are getting a Leo this week!!
Thank you for always for the great tips!
Thanks, this vid was really helpful and helped me with my leopard gecko
Thanks for all your amazing tips and help with setting up a new tank.
I'm glad I was able to help you out! đ
I know this is old, but I just subbed! This was super helpful. I just got mine today (a "fancy" leopard gecko) with my graduation money. Spent almost all of it and I definitely do not regret it! I have over 17 pets, but have never had a leopard gecko. I've done plenty of research on lots of animals (especially these little guys) but just wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything so I can give him the best life. This video did not disappoint and it was the best advice! Thank you!
Iâm getting one as a graduation gift too! Weird coincidence lmao
I dont have social media but watching you has helped me alot w my beardies
Your shirt is so cute! I love âtipsâ videos even though iâve watched practically all of them lol! Thanks for the shoutout I was so surprised đ„°
Thank you and you're very welcome! Thanks for the support đ
Elle's Reptiles Always! Hope youâre having a good day.
This is very helpfull im getting one of these little lads today so i just wanted to know a little more and some of this i did not know thank you for the video :)
Omg! Oh my gosh! Sees notification that Elle has posted. *clicks on* Iâm a massive fan I love your videos so much. Just wanted to say keep up the good work! You are incredibleđđ
Thank you so much! đ„°
Wow this video was very helpful đđđ thank you for giving me so tips about how to get close to my leopard gecko
Im so glad i found this. Im looking into getting my daughter one
Just got my little Frankie and this video was really helpful and informative
Thank you so much for the help!
Thx for the tips I had a leopard gecko but itâs at my dads house now and Iâm thinking bout getting another one and these are great tips
I subscribed. Always love your videos. Thank you for useful information provided in a fabulous manner.
Thank you so much for subscribing - welcome to the channel đ„°đ
Thank you for this video! I just got 2 4/5 years old sister girls.
They were together in a very dry environment... I seperate them and mix play aand with coco coir and a tiny bit of bark for the live plants I will put in each enclosure! đ
A specialist told me this weekend that for the best clean up crew for those its the orange cream isopods or the other orange ones.
That a tip that I learn that can be useful đ
Thank you for these! I've had snakes and turtles but not lizards... but I'm considering a Leopard Geko next. This Helped a lot!
My geko is the sweetest.
However when I got her the lady had told me that she screams. As a first time geko owner I didnât really know at the time what that ment but it didnât matter to me as much I fell in love with her when I first saw her. I got home and she was the sweetest little thing she was still a bit shy and would run into her cave but not once has she ever screamed when handling her. When Iâm around her she doesnât even run away.
I also had noticed there was a price tag on the tiny cage that she was brought home to me in which made me think that they kept her in there for most of her life at that store which made me sad.
She didnât seem to have the greatest life at the store before but
Whatever the case sheâs In a better home now with me and is loving her new big tank and tree logs to climb on and hide under.â€đ
My lizzzo loves their moist hide and bigger encloser with three hides and was happily shedding!
My leopars gecko Nessie was my very first reptile ever. She was the rare success story from PetSmart. They had 8 leopard geckos ranging from hatchlings to half grown juveniles in a TINY space. When I got Nessie she had already regenerated a new tail after losing hers. I think she was also the bully when it comes to feeding because she was so much larger than the rest. But she was also one of the prettiest. She is a blizzard with marbled eyes. And with her "turnip tail" as I call it, she was, and still is the perfect leopard gecko.
Decided to watch this video to look back on my care for her at the beginning. I still cringe, thinking about the blue and red "day and night" bulbs i used for her. I'll admit, my care wasn't 100% on point. But she had multiple hides, including a humid hide. I fed her mostly live crickets and super worms (still do). And made sure she has a dish of calcium powder.
It took a little bit, but after learning more about leopard geckos, I switched her dome lights for a heat mat, and her reptile carpet liner for flat rocks and paper towels. Hoping after i move i will have the space to get her a new front opening tank as well. Top opening are so annoying.
Great video as always. Keep up the good work.
Good informative videos thanks hun
Thanks you I got mine and was a little worried why he was âavoiding meâ he was just shy thanks so much â€
sooooooo cute and thanks for the advise
So glad it's helpful!
This helped me so much because I'm getting one
This was very helpful!! Just got a leopard gecko!!
I love your vids so much you really help me take care of my pets Idk what I would do without your vids
đ„° thank you. I'm so happy they've been helpful!
Thank you so much I just got my leopard gecko named Mushu
Aaghh, I'm lateđ This is a great video! More people need to know these things about leopard geckos!
Right now I'm thinking about getting a leopard gecko so I'm happy this could help
Good morning Elle, hope you have an amazing Sunday.
I hope you do as well! đ
@@ellesreptiles thank you Ma'am đ
thank you for the video, awesome shirt, have a great day
THX!you helped me so much I am getting a leopard gecko and u are so nice abt everything u say. U are a big helper thank u !!â
Awww I'm so glad the video was helpful â„ïž
Thank you I got a leopard gecko 2 days ago and I needed tips
u have got me through having a healthy bearded dragon and now helping me with my new leopard gecko ur amazing!
That's so encouraging to hear! So glad the videos have helped! đ
A hide with two openings like a half log is best for the warm hide and a hide with one opening is best for the cold hide. You can also use the cold hide as the moist hide
This video helped me with my leopard gecko
thank you i did the calcium dish thing
Elle, YOU are the bee's knees! Love your videos đ€©
Hahaha thank you! đ
Amazing ContentđŠ
I appreciate the video I just got 2 new baby leos and 1 (the albino, Gizmo) is healthy and seems to be doing fine. The other, Bleu unfortunately is sick. Lost his/her tail, and also has a parasite. I've been doing what I can. I didn't know about the calcium thing. New to leopard geckos so this was a big help. My first was a bearded dragon... so this is a big difference for me lol. As I'm used to a "hardier" animal. But I'm still glad to have Gizmo and Bleu. They are great. Admittedly Gizmo did spook me the first time I tried handling her and she screamed at me!
You are awesome every Sunday for sure
Another great care video. Keep doing what you're doing! My Leo agrees with everything lmao
Hahaha well thank you to you and your leo đ
@@ellesreptiles Hey do you know why leopard geckos stop eating ? Mine hasnât eaten in about a month and it seems not to lost any weight my temp on the colder side is 76 and warmer side is 96 and itâs a female and it doesnât look sick at all
So helpful
Good tips on thinking of buying my 1st leopard Gecko
Thank you!
I'm wanting to get my first leopard gecko and have been trying to do as much research as possible, and your videos are a huge help đ
ì ì”í ìì ê°ìŹí©ëë€~đ
Thanks for this! Ik Iâm a bit late but either way Iâve been considering getting a Leo so
I just got my first leopard gecko, and I can honestly say I donât know what I was thinking taking so long adding them to my little animal family đ€ My little baby is so inquisitive, personable and of course adorable đ This video was so helpful and Iâll use these tips to help give my Leo an awesome existence â„ïž
Thank you again, and loved the bloopers and the future, past, present you dropping in to the video for the forgotten things đ Take care and looking forward to more videos
Im a new leopard gecko owner and his name is Echo, he's been here for 2 days and this helped so much!! Thank you!
i want a leopard gecko and this video was very helpful thank you sm omg
Your videos really have helped. I'm adopting a leopard gecko from my aunt and uncle who cannot properly take care of it
I'm so glad they've helped, and I'm glad you're taking in the leopard gecko. đ
Thank you for the tips I'm supposed to be getting a lizard or gecko of some sort and I really like leopard geckos they're really pretty so I've been doing research about them
Leopard Geckos are very nice. Good video. Best wishes.
Thank you and same to you! đ
đđđ SO FREAKIN BEAUTIFUL. Thanks for the knowledge Queen
Aww thanks and you're welcome đ
I went to a reptile expo today with my son and he fell in love with an albino leopard gecko. Well, I got one for him so I'm trying to do as much research tonight as possible. We got him the basics but the basics are nowhere near enough. I'll be going shopping tomorrow for things you recommended in this video. Thank you so much!
For future reference, impulse buying animals without doing research beforehand is not a good thing to do.
The care guide on the website reptifiles and the Leopard Gecko - Advancing Husbandry Facebook group are good sources of info.
@@nightinggale6470 I agree that it wasn't the smartest, though I did have family with me that has had leopard geckos for years. They gave me some pointers and made sure I did the initial setup properly. After that I did my own research.
And thank you, I'll check out those guides!
My family just got our leopard gecko today, she doesnât mind being handled so far, but sheâs very chill for most of the time and she likes to sit on my chest while I read in my bed!
Well hello there Elle, đ I have been contemplating on getting a leopard gecko for months. Thanks for this helpful clip. You're a Beez neez đ lol. Super informative and super beautiful.
Haha thank you so much! đ„°
And I'm glad it was helpful. đ
@@ellesreptiles hey Elle, also just a thought but would you think about making a video about ball pythons when it comes to lighting, what are the best bulbs to use and so on if a person wants to go down that path. I am using a light source and heat pad by the way.
Lol I subscribed before I even seen the subscribe part :)
I just got two yesterday perfect timing
Yay! That's awesome. Congrats! đ
Love your amazing videos. A tip that you could have added is the proper tank size. I have heard 20 gallon long then I heard 40 gallon breeder or larger tank.
Thank u for all the tipsđŠ my little yoshi thanks you as well.
Thank you for this informative video. I got a leopard gecko from my fiance's coworker, I'd say about 2 months ago. He came from a home where he was tormented by a cat. So I'm still working on socializing him.
Thanks you these were very helpful even though I already own a leopard gecko and I have had him for almost 3 lol
Ugh, my daughter wants a leopard gecko so bad. I just wanted to see what I'd be getting into. I know I'll be the one caring for it after a few weeks. This video was very informative. Thanks for your efforts!
My leo is so loving
Thank you for telling me about the wax worms!! I just got a baby albino leo and Iâve been feeding her mealworms and those! Iâll make sure to be careful!
Keep in mind that mealworms arenât healthy for their main diet and should make up no more than 25% of their diet. Good staples include live crickets, roaches, and silkworms. Black soldier fly larvae, hornworms, and superworms can be fed occasionally (wait until sheâs bigger for the latter two). The more variety in their diet, the better.
off topic but im in LOVE with your accent!!
Thank you đ„°
Love having a fellow country sister on here to watch!â€â€
???
These are great tips! (i love your accent btw đ)
This was so helpful! I have been looking into getting a leopard gecko soon! I already have almost all of the products for them i just need to set up the tank and get my new little friend! How much and how often do you suggest feeding them?
Yup I want one
yes